Uruguay’s experiment with legal domestic cannabis cultivation is about to enter a new phase, marking a key opportunity for the country to demonstrate what an effective enforcement model for the law will look like in the future.

February 23: A Big Day for Uruguay’s Marijuana ExperimentNote: I originally wrote this post for an e-mail list of policy experts interested in tracking the politics of drug policy reform in Uruguay. Contact me at gramsey@wola.org if you are interested in receiving future updates. Uruguay’s experiment with legal d...

Uruguay's Marijuana Law: Continuity on the HorizonWith the return of Milton Romani as Uruguay’s drug czar, and with the medicinal use and commercial sale elements of the country’s cannabis law taking shape, incoming President Tabaré Vázquez has given his clearest signal yet that he will support its rollout...

Changes at the Pan-American PostFor the past three and a half years, I havehad the pleasure of using this space to provide regular summaries and analysis ofpolitical and civil society issues in Latin America. Starting in 2015, however,the Pan-American Post will see some important chang...

Rios Montt Trial Slated for January 5, But Amnesty Ruling PendingGuatemala’s Constitutional Court -- thesame court that annulled Efrain Rios Montt’s guilty sentence on genocidecharges in 2013 -- has paved the way for the ex-dictator to face a new trial nextmonth. But while human rights advocates have welcomed the news...

No Immediate Regime Change in Cuba, But So What?Despite last week’s historic breakthroughin U.S.-Cuba relations, Cuban President Raul Castro has made it clear that amajor overhaul of his country’s political system anytime soon. But while U.S. conservatives will use this asfodder to attack President O...

Obama Signs Sanctions Against Venezuelan OfficialsYesterday, U.S. President Barack Obamasigned the VenezuelaDefense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014 , which imposessanctions on Venezuelan officials responsible for human rights violationslinked to the wave of protests earlier this year. Whi...

Congressional Cold Warriors Stick to Their Guns on CubaYesterday, President Barack Obama announcedthe biggest change in United States policy towards Cuba of the past 50 years. Butwhile Obama deserves praise for finally taking executive action on the issue, Congressremains the main obstacle to improved relati...

Honduras’ New Security Minister: a Sign of Militarization?In a potential indicator of the increasingmilitarization of public security in the country, Honduras has appointed thefirst ever active-duty general as head of its security ministry. On Sunday, the administration of HonduranPresident Juan Orlando Hernand...

Report: Mexican Federal Police Involved in Ayotzinapa DisappearancesOn Sunday, Proceso magazine published aninvestigative report that directly contradicts the official account of thedisappearance of the 43 students of Ayotzinapa. The investigation, which isbased on leaked government documents and a Guerrero state report ...